The kitchen was a warzone in the best possible way.
Alice had claimed the center island as her command post, wooden spoon in hand, pointing it at anyone who moved too slowly or plated too messily. Her brow was furrowed with the severity of a general leading a campaign, and she directed traffic with absolute confidence in her own authority.
"More sauce on that one! No, not that much! Nyx, the garnish is crooked!"
"It's a leaf, Alice."
"It's a crooked leaf!"
Behind her, Alexandra moved in quiet circles, adjusting heat on burners Alice had left too high, rescuing a reduction that was thirty seconds from burning, and re-seasoning a cut of Emberfang that needed salt. She did all of it with a big smile, never once correcting the girl out loud, slipping fixes into the workflow so seamlessly that Alice's commands appeared to be producing perfect results.
The camera caught everything. Alice's intensity, Alexandra's saves, the organized chaos of seven women in a kitchen built for three.
